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Nonlinear multi-scale interactions between the tearing mode and the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode are investigated by means of numerical simulations in a self-consistent 5-field Landau-fluid model. It is observed that there exists a threshold of magnetic island width in the nonlinear evolution of interaction, above which the ITG turbulence can enhance the island growth significantly. Dependence of the threshold on basic plasma parameters is deeply analyzed. It is found that the higher ion viscosity may raise the threshold through its effect on the E×B drift and the diamagnetic drift of electron density gradient in different ways, both of which play a synergetic role in determining the threshold. Moreover, the effects of plasma resistivity, gradient length of equilibrium current sheet as well as magnetic shear of field line on the threshold are discussed based on the analyses of the initial growth rate of islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio frequency (RF) waves can provide heating, current and flow drive, as well as instability control for steady state operations of fusion experiments. A particle simulation model has been developed in this work to provide a first-principles tool for studying the RF nonlinear interactions with plasmas. In this model, ions are considered as fully kinetic particles using the Vlasov equation and electrons are treated as guiding centers using the drift kinetic equation. This model has been implemented in a global gyrokinetic toroidal code using real electron-to-ion mass ratio. To verify the model, linear simulations of ion plasma oscillation, ion Bernstein wave, and lower hybrid wave are carried out in cylindrical geometry and found to agree well with analytic predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]